Wardrobe Essentials for Work

What are the best wardrobe essentials for work? What are the building blocks of a great working wardrobe? We've long noticed, in the course of our regular recommendations for pieces for your working wardrobe, that there are “greatest hits” — dresses and skirts and other basics that are highly rated, reappear year after year, and seem to work for a ton of different sizes and shapes.

We've collected some in our Workwear Hall of Fame — but a lot of them appear in our regular Hunt roundups, where we're hunting for a workwear basic in a range of prices. But if you happen to be building a work wardrobe for a new job (or a change of job), these “greatest hits” would be a great place to start building your working wardrobe — because they're wardrobe essentials for work.

Other Roundups of Wardrobe Essentials for Work

• The Best Plus-Size Women's Workwear – Wardrobe Essentials!
• The Most Affordable Office Clothes for Women
• The Best Maternity Workwear Essentials {CorporetteMoms}

{related: the most affordable office clothes for women (roundup of budget-friendly wardrobe essentials!)}

You may also want to check out the Hunts we've done for currently trendy workwear, as well as our The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women.

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sleek, Polished Office Shoes

Some of the best-selling pumps that are great first bets if you're on the hunt include these classic black heels for business attire:

Stylish “Comfort Heels” For Work

One of our most popular pages has long been our Guide to Comfortable Heels — and while we often round up popular, highly-rated heels, we thought we'd feature some of the popular heels that are especially known for comfort.

These can be great if you're just getting used to heels, you need to be on your feet for a networking event or presentation, or you've just got fussy feet.

The Best Pants for Work

Psst: check out our latest thoughts on the best trouser lengths for women!

Stylish Dress Pants for Women

There are a TON of great options for pants for work right now, with lots under $100 and almost everything being machine washable. (Check out our tips here on HOW to wash your washable pants to help with durability and help you avoid ironing…) There are stretchy options to keep you comfortable all day long (like the “comfortable magic pants” the readers love!) and more substantial, stiffer options that will look crisp all day and hold you in a bit more (a bit like this one). (If you really like washable clothes, check our roundup of the best brands for washable workwear over at CorporetteMoms.) Below, some of our favorites from our roundup of the best pants for work:

Polished Pull-On Pants for Work

Great Wide-Leg Pants to Wear to Work

Hunting for more wide-leg pants to wear to work? We just rounded some up, and general favorites include pleated pairs like Favorite Daughter, Everlane*, Reformation*, and Abercrombie*, with flat-front pairs from Good American,* M.M.LaFleur, and Ann Taylor. (* = plus sizes; see the post for notes on petites and talls). We've also shared our thoughts on what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants! Our latest favorite wide-leg pants include these (as of 2024):

Flared Pants for Work Outfits

Stay tuned for our latest favorite office-appropriate flared pants for women! In general in 2024, check out Spanx, Hugo Boss, Theory, Amazon seller Rekucci, Anthropologie's Maeve line, and Eloquii.

Polished Bootcut Pants for Work Outfits

There are a bunch of great bootcut dress pants. Some of our favorites include Good American, Theory, Spanx, and Boss, as well as the very affordable Tapata brand (with tall, petite, and regular lengths); Alexander McQueen also has a bunch right now. On the more casual side, check out KUT from the Kloth cords, Wit & Wisdom jeans, and Betabrand “dress yoga pants.”

Stylish Straight Dress Pants for Women

Straight pants can be a bit tricky to get the hem correct, and they have a slight potential to be frumpy. That said, they are a classic because they tend to be immune from trends. Some great options in 2024 include reader-favorites Nic & Zoe pants, NYDJ, J.Crew, these “perfect” pants from Spanx, and the very affordable Amazon seller Tapata (with petite, regular, and tall sizes).

The Best Ankle Pants for Work

Ankle pants may not be super trendy at the moment, but they can still be a great look, particularly if you like to switch up your shoe heights a lot. As of 2024, longstanding favorites include pants from Eileen Fisher*, J.Crew*, and Theory. For plus sizes check Eloquii as well as the options with asterisks — and on the more casual side, check out Old Navy*, Athleta*, and Everlane*.

Great Blazers for Work: The Perfect Third Piece

Classic Blazers to Wear as Separates

Hunting for a luxe statement blazer? 2024 favorites include Smythe, include McQueen, L'Agence, Veronica Beard, The Fold, Armani, and Anine Bing.

Sweater Jackets for the Office: Cozy but Polished

Another great wardrobe essential that's become popular in recent years: sweater jackets for the office!

Where to Find Chanel-Like Jackets for the Office

Some of our latest favorite Chanel-style jackets for work in 2024 include these, but in general check brands like Chanel, St. John, IRO, L'Agence, Sandro, ba&sh, and J.Crew. On the budget side of things, check out Mango and White House Black Market.

The Best Dresses for the Office

Stylish Sheath Dresses for Work

A sheath dress is a must for the conservative office — it's a great structured, tailored piece that you can dress up or down with a blazer. (We haven't done a roundup of fit & flare dresses for a while, but when we do we'll update this page.)

Colorful Sheath Dresses

Of course, work dresses can be colorful also — these are some of the best bets if you're hunting for rich, saturated colors:

Great Wrap Dresses for Work

Wrap dresses are a great option to wear to work while losing weight, because they always fit — some new moms also think wrap dresses make the best clothes for pumping (although opinions vary widely on that). If you're not pumping and wondering what to wear beneath a wrap dress, check out this post. Some classic options for wrap dresses, below:

The Best Skirts for Work

Pencil skirts are a GREAT wardrobe basic — they make a great structured base for pairing with everything from button-front blouses to elevated tees to blazer/cardigan/jardigan looks. Some favorite pencil skirts for work:

Polished Tops and Blouses for Work

Crisp Button-Front Blouses for Work

A crisp women's dress shirt is a great layering piece for beneath a blazer, a sweater, or more. If you find that button downs don't work with your bust, but still want to wear them, do check out our roundup of boutique shops specializing in busty blouses — you can also check out our advice on how to wear a button-front to work. If you prefer a silk button-front, scroll down…

Silk Button-Front Blouses

Another stylish option: the silk button-front. These can be easier for layering beneath a suit, cardigan, or more — but be warned they can be higher maintenance. 

Easy Popover Blouses for Work Outfits

Popover blouses can be the best of all worlds — they're dressy, but don't have gaping problems, and are usually easy to care for (i.e., machine washable). Here are some of our latest favorites…

Short-Sleeved Sweaters

Short-sleeved sweaters can be great because they don't present the layering problems of longer sleeved sweaters, and they can be a bit more opaque than regular t-shirts, particularly if you want a light or white color. They also don't have the gaping problems of blouses.

Sleeveless Tops for Work

Sleeveless tops, shells and blouses can be great alternatives to sleeved blouses and tees, particularly if you want a layered look with clean lines. These are some of our favorites — you can see our whole roundup of sleeveless tops.

Camisoles for Work

Of course, if you're wearing button-front shirts, you may want to look into camisoles for work — they can be great for raising the neckline, making sure no skin is showing through gaps in buttons, and can be a generally great layering piece. (Also check out our roundup of the best demi-camisoles for work — great if you don't like a ton of unnecessary fabric around your midsection.) Remember: if you're hoping it will raise the neckline of what you're wearing, you're looking for something that doesn't look like lingerie — the less lace, mesh, and other details, the better.

T-Shirts for Work

T-shirts are great in summer, of course, but they're also great for layering under cardigans and blazers as seasons change. Some of our favorite tees for layering include:

Professional Tote Bags

A work tote is a MUST if you're interviewing — you need something big enough to hold a folder with your resume, light enough that you don't mind lugging it around, and durable enough that you won't cry if it gets rained on. (Note that we've also talked about the best backpacks for your commute, as well as the most stylish laptop totes and sleeves.) Some of the best work bags of all time are pictured below, ranging from $168-$298:

(Looking for a luxury work bag? Here's our latest roundup…)

Looking for the best laptop bags for work? These are some of our Hall of Famer styles:

Backpacks for work are getting more and more popular, as well, so you may want to check out our recent roundup of the best stylish backpacks for work (including which laptop backpacks are polished enough for work)!

Update: Hunting for the best work backpacks? Some of our favorites in 2024 are below — see the full post for all the details!

Stylish Purses the Readers Love

Hunting for a great professional purse? In 2024, readers are loving affordable crossbody bags like those from Cuyana, Lo & Sons, and Madewell.

In terms of a designer bag to suit your life as a professional, readers have been loving affordable(ish) luxury brands like Polène, Tory Burch, Strathberry, DeMellier, and Mansur Gavriel, as well as more designer bags like Chloé (particularly the Marcie line) and Mulberry. (If money is no object, Loewe and Bottega Venetta are always worth a look!)

Seasonal Wardrobe Essentials For Work: Summer Work Clothes

Lightweight Pants for Summer Work Clothes

Nude-For-You Pumps

Whether your office allows bare legs in summer, or you just prefer the bare look with great pantyhose, matching the tone of your shoe to the tone of your legs is one way to make your legs look like they go for miles. Some of our latest favorite skin-tone pumps for work include:

2024 Update: Some of our latest favorite nude heels for every skin tone include the following — see the full post for all the details!

Lightweight Summer Blazers

If summer recruiting is in your life at all (whether as a summer associate, an intern, or as an interviewer!), the summer blazer can be an easy way to look pulled together, FAST. (We've also rounded up our favorite stylish summer dress pants for women!) Some of our favorite lightweight blazers for summer include these best-sellers…

White Blazers

Another great option for a summer blazer: the white blazer. They can freshen up a ton of outfits and add an element of polish and structure to an otherwise relaxed summer outfit.

Demi-Camisoles

Finally, it should be noted that a great layering piece you may not even KNOW about for hot summer months is the demi-camisole. This can be a great way to raise the neckline of anything you're wearing without adding a ton of fabric around your middle. (Most people still wear a regular bra beneath these — know your office if you only wear one of these.)

Cold Weather Basics for Work

Cold weather is another beast — we've also discussed how to buy a great winter coat, as well as how to be graceful in a New York winter. (We've included our favorite sweater jackets for the office above, with blazer recommendations.) Stay tuned for updates to our hunt for flannel pants, also!

Warm Winter Pants

Tweed Blazers for Work

Great Office Sweaters

Cardigans Every Woman Needs for Work

So many women love cardigans for work — they're more comfortable and warmer than a blazer, and can be a much more laid back, casual look. We've broken down the different styles of cardigans and how we wear them to work — these are some of our favorites through the years. You may also want to check out our roundup of affordable blazers under $50 as many are knit and comfy.

Affordable Cashmere for Work

Cashmere runs the gamut from affordable to expensive — and we've talked about the best cashmere a ton over the years. Below are some of the best-selling, great cashmere sweaters for work that we've seen for years:

Tights for Work

Tights for work are a must — and whether you want opacity, warmth, durabilty, or more, we did a major roundup. Below are some of the best-selling reader favorites.

Note that we've also talked about what color tights to wear with a navy suit, as well as when it's time to stop wearing tights (seasonally). You can also check out the Corporette Guide to Pantyhose or our 2017 discussion on the best lingerie for office looks.

The Best Shoes to Wear with Tights

Strappy Pumps for the Office

I'm always a fan of strappy pumps, but I especially think they're the best work shoe to wear with tights — these are some of the best-selling, classic versions of strappy pumps:

Best Knee-High Boots for Commuting

Winter Coats To Wear with Suits and Other Conservative Office Clothes

Winter coats are a must if you live in a cold climate — the right topper will not only keep you warm but also stylish. Some reader favorites are pictured below, but note that we've also discussed in general how to buy a great winter coat.

Waterproof, Weatherproof Shoes for Work

If your commute involves puddles, slush, dirt, or more, a great waterproof, weatherproof shoe is essential! Some favorite options over the years include:

Winter Layers: Long Underwear For the Win

As we noted in our last post on warm women's dress pants for the office, silk long johns (aka long underwear, aka silk leggings) can be lifesavers under pants in most blustry days of winter. The best ones block the wind, keeping you nice and toasty — but don't add a ton of heat once you get inside.

They're also great if you're wondering what to wear beneath unlined suit pants…

Great Suits for Every Budget

Affordable Suits for Women

All of the suits in this tier are generally under $250 for two pieces. Note that the two big risks with a budget option will be frumpiness on one end — and “sexy secretary”/ formality problems on the other.

Try to look for a material that drapes well, doesn't wrinkle, isn't too seasonal (such as a cotton suit — a tropical wool or triacetate will go farther) — and be wary of trendy cuts like collarless jackets, huge slits in your skirt, cropped pants, and more.

Mid-Range Suits for Women

These suits are reliably under $500 for two pieces — but they're going to be a bit higher quality than more affordable suiting options in the first tier.

Investment Suits for Women

I also call this category “fancy affordable” — they're expensive, but generally worth it if you wear a suit a lot. For many women this is going to be the first “splurge” suit — two pieces will cost you more than $500, but less than $1000.

Some of our favorite “investment” suits for women include brands like Theory, Reiss, Hugo Boss, M.M.LaFleur, and Brooks Brothers — expect to pay north of $500 for both pieces.

Designer Suits for Women

Our Favorite Navy Suits

Navy suits are a great basic for interviews, conservative workplaces, and big presentations!

The pros are that navy is generally a more flattering color for many skintones than the harsher black, and one of the big pitfalls of navy (getting the navies to match) is taken care of by the fact that you're buying matching pieces in the same fabric!

The only con to navy suits is that they can be slightly harder to style — as a general rule of thumb, wear black accessories to dress them up, brown to dress them down.

Some of our latest favorite navy suits as of 2024 include these options:

Stylish Charcoal Gray Suits for Women

These charcoal gray suits have been around for a while and are a great bet for where they'll be in stock as of 2024… Brooks Brothers also has a classic gray suit as of Jan. 2024.

Weekend Wear (or for your Casual Office)

Best-Selling Denim

Every woman needs a good pair of jeans — even if you only get to wear them on the weekends. In our last round-up of the best jeans for work, these were the favorites, ranging from $25-$235:

The Best T-shirts for the Weekend

We also recently rounded up the best simple t-shirts for weekend:

Pictured illustration: Deposit Photos / © urfingus.